What issues are important to you?

All of us, including people who are fleeing war-torn countries, have a right to live free from danger, to be treated with dignity and compassion, and to be given help when we need it. Australians are compassionate and fair. Looking out for others is at the very core of who we are. The Greens are the only party that continues to advocate for people held indefinitely in offshore detention centres. We believe the Manus Island and Nauru detention centres should be closed. People indefinitely detained in these centres who are seeking protection should be brought to Australia for onshore processing.

The Murray Darling Basin – our nation’s lifeblood is in desperate need of more water if it is to survive. It is time for the environment to be back at the centre of the Plan. Climate change, gross maladministration, negligence and unlawfulness are killing our river system – we will continue to stand up to the bastards and fight for our River.

We have the technology and expertise to transform our energy sector, to provide cleaner, cheaper and more reliable services that tackle climate change. All that is missing to achieve this transformation is the political will. Unlike the other parties, the Greens understand that renewable energy is the cheapest form of energy. We believe renewable energy will transform our economy.

We need to create a natural environment where future generations will thrive. The major parties have allowed big corporations to dictate environmental policies for way too long. Funding for the environment is being slashed constantly. Our planet needs a comprehensive plan rather than cuts and stop-gap measures. To better protect our shared natural resources, our wild places and our threatened species, the Howard-era federal environmental laws need to be rewritten.

We are in a global race against time on climate change. We see the effects all around us: severe drought, more bushfires and rising sea levels. We know that pollution caused by burning fossil fuels is a major contributor to global warming. Instead of embracing renewable energy and tackling climate change, both the Liberal and Labor parties have propped up the coal, fracking and oil industries, selling the rest of us out in return for enormous political donations from multi-national corporations. The fossil fuel lobby continues to do everything it can to undermine action on climate change and block the transition to renewable technology. Our future is too important to be in the hands of the fossil fuel lobby and the major party politicians they collaborate with. The Greens have a plan, based on the science, to rapidly transition our economy to renewable energy and end political donations from mining companies. Without the big polluters holding us back, we can create the infrastructure and jobs needed to drive a cleaner, modern economy.

The Australian Greens will continue to push for an urgent $75 a week increase to Newstart. Increasing Newstart and Youth Allowance, which have not had an increase in real terms since 1994, will significantly help people struggling to try to make ends meet, and is one of the measures needed to address poverty.

The ABC and SBS have been under relentless threats from the conservative Coalition Government. Budget cuts, privatisation talks, and blatant political interference are constant. The ideological attacks on the ABC must end. In times when trust in politicians is at an all-time low, we need a strong, independent, well-funded public broadcaster to hold governments to account and ensure Australians are well informed.

Improved recycling is important, but it is not enough. The core of the problem is that we use too much plastic. The Greens will work with stakeholders towards a nationwide phase out of single-use plastics for take-away foods, including straws, containers, lids and other plastic packaging. This will be done in conjunction with industry, scientists, innovators, consumer and community groups, as well as state and local governments.

The Great Australian Bight deserves to be preserved, that is why we are campaigning to have the area nominated for World Heritage protection. Opening up a new fossil fuel basin in The Great Australian Bight at this time is the height of irresponsibility, given the current climate. Oil and gas drilling in the Bight must be banned indefinitely.

We agree! – Climate change is the biggest threat to our planet. We are the first generation to see the effects of climate change. Will we be the last generation with the ability prevent it? We need the government to commit to no new coal, oil or gas projects if we are going to avert climate change.

Our democracy should work for everyone, not just for the people and corporations who can afford a seat at the table. The Greens support a ban on political donations from mining, property development, tobacco, alcohol, gambling, banking, defence and pharmaceutical industries. We also support putting a cap of $1,000 a year on all other donations.